Chapter 21: The Battlefield Stands Still
For the first time since the battle had started, everything was silent.
The once chaotic battlefield, full of shouts, clashes, and booming noises, had now been reduced to an eerie quiet, with only the rotating air barrier surrounding the Avengers, keeping them in place. The ground was scattered with debris, the aftermath of a battle between friends turned foes. The air barrier that Alex had conjured up was the only thing standing between them and the chaos outside.
And in the sky, Wanda was gone. She had disappeared in Alex's arms.
The last thing the Avengers saw before the air sphere surrounded them was the glimpse of Alex's retreating figure, flying off with Wanda, his expression serious, his protective instincts clearly in control.
Inside the air sphere, the Avengers exchanged glances.
Tony was the first to break the silence.
"Well," Tony said, adjusting the cuffs of his suit, "that's one way to end a fight. You all see that? One second we're about to tear each other apart, the next thing I know, I'm in some invisible hamster ball." He raised an eyebrow, giving Steve a pointed look. "Nice job, Cap. You angered the super strong guy. You really want to poke the bear, huh?"
Steve let out an exasperated sigh. "Tony, I didn't do anything!" he snapped. "I'm not the one who—"
Tony cut him off. "Uh-huh. Right. You didn't do anything. You just stood there looking all—" Tony threw his arms out dramatically, "—noble and heroic, and now we've got some super guy flying off with Wanda!" He leaned in toward Steve. "Nice work, Cap, you've got the world's most powerful boyfriend angry now."
Steve gave him a deadpan look. "I didn't ask for any of this. Maybe we could focus on the fact that Wanda's gone, and no one knows what that guy's going to do next."
Sam Wilson raised an eyebrow. "I'm not sure 'getting everyone mad at him' is the problem. The issue is 'getting everyone killed.' We need to make sure Wanda's okay. Who knows what that guy's capable of?"
Tony waved him off, still looking at Steve. "But seriously, can you blame him? That guy's got all the makings of a super soldier, a warrior's body, and the ability to put an airlock around us. If I were him, I'd be mad at all of us too."
Clint, still lounging against the barrier, muttered, "Well, that was something. You think he's gonna come back and finish what he started?"
"Probably not," Natasha said, her arms crossed. "He's not the type to fight unless he has to. It's clear he was trying to protect her. She's important to him."
Peter Parker, hanging upside down from a strand of webbing, piped up, "Okay, but seriously. Do we know who this guy is? I was just trying to stop the Hulk, and now I'm stuck in an air bubble like some kind of science experiment."
"He's probably some random guy," Scott Lang said, trying to get comfortable by sitting on the floor in his Ant-Man suit. "But a guy that strong? No offense, but I'm scared."
Bucky was quiet for a moment before chiming in, his voice flat. "Whoever he is, he's not messing around."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "You know something we don't, Bucky?"
Bucky shook his head. "No, just… we've seen how people like that operate."
Steve frowned. "We need to focus on what matters here. Wanda. Is she alright?"
T'Challa, who had been standing silently, finally spoke up. "We should trust that the man who took her will ensure her safety. He doesn't seem like an enemy, just… someone who cares for her deeply."
Tony, surprisingly, sighed. "Alright. Fine. I'll drop the whole 'super boyfriend' thing." He looked at Steve. "But if she's hurt, we'll deal with it as a team, okay?"
Steve nodded. "I can live with that."
"Well, thank God," Tony muttered, then raised his voice to address the rest of the group. "Alright, everybody. We're gonna stay here, calm down, and wait. And when that guy comes back, maybe we'll have a nice little chat about boundaries, and who's allowed to swoop in and save who."
"Great idea, Tony," Clint said sarcastically. "I'm sure he's gonna love that."
Sam and Natasha exchanged knowing glances as Tony's sarcasm filled the air again.
"So…" Natasha began slowly, "while we're waiting… anyone care to share their opinions on how this all went so wrong? Anyone?"
Steve sighed again. "We should've tried to talk things out before things got this far. It didn't help that our leader here kept throwing insults." He glanced pointedly at Tony. "I tried to tell everyone, but it seems the message didn't get through."
Tony threw his hands up. "Oh, come on! I didn't insult anyone! I just said—okay, yeah, maybe I've been a little sarcastic, but it's only because this whole thing is a mess!"
Bucky looked over at Tony and said, "You're lucky you didn't get yourself killed."
Tony grinned. "That's me. Lucky Tony Stark, always surviving the impossible. And yes, Bucky, you can thank me later for not getting killed."
"Fine," Bucky said, crossing his arms. "But I hope you're ready to get to work after this. It's gonna take a lot to clean up the mess we've made here."
Peter sighed, looking around. "It doesn't help that we're all stuck in a magic bubble."
The conversation continued in the air sphere, with the Avengers bickering and trying to make sense of the situation. And then, suddenly, the conversation turned more serious.
Tony's expression softened when he realized something.
"You know, I've been thinking," he said quietly. "This whole situation, the Sokovia Accords, the split between us… It's not just about politics or rights. It's about something deeper."
Steve looked at him. "What do you mean?"
Tony's voice dropped, his usual sarcasm fading away. "I was thinking about Wanda. And about the guy who took her. He's not just some random stranger. I don't know him, but… he cares about her. And that matters more than anything right now."
Steve nodded. "I agree. Maybe we've been too focused on fighting each other, trying to prove whose side is right."
Tony turned to Steve. "I think we're both right… and both wrong. The Sokovia Accords were necessary to protect people, but maybe we need a bit more flexibility. And you, Steve, you were right about doing what's right, no matter the cost. But, sometimes, the greater good comes from understanding each other."
Steve raised an eyebrow. "That sounds like you're finally listening."
Tony grinned. "Maybe I am."
---
Meanwhile, in the Avengers Tower…
Wanda was lying on a medical bed, Pepper Potts hovering over her. The two women were silent as Pepper carefully applied medical equipment to help treat Wanda's injuries.
Pepper's voice was calm but urgent as she worked. "Alex came in fast… and you were bleeding." She gently took Wanda's hand. "Don't worry, Wanda. You're safe now. I'm here."
Wanda barely responded, too weak to talk. The steady hum of medical machines was the only noise in the room.
Outside the room, Alex paced back and forth, his hands clenched into fists. "What did I miss? Why didn't I—"
He was cut off by Pepper walking out of the room, looking exhausted but relieved.
"She's stable for now," Pepper said. "We'll need to keep an eye on her, but she'll be okay."
Alex closed his eyes, letting out a long breath.
"Thank you," he said softly.
Pepper smiled. "You're welcome."
---
Later:
Back in the battlefield, Tony and Steve had finally come to a truce. Their endless bickering had stopped as they reached an understanding. But they both knew, deep down, that the Avengers needed to find a balance between personal feelings and global responsibility.
Bucky approached Tony, his expression regretful.
"I owe you an apology," he said sincerely. "I know what I did was wrong. You've had your reasons. I just… I lost control."
Tony sighed. "We all have our demons, Bucky."
Bucky looked up. "But I don't want to hurt anyone again. I just want to make it right."
Steve smiled faintly. "I think we all need to figure out how to make it right. Together."
With that, the Avengers came to a mutual decision. They would work independently to handle situations as they saw fit, but they would always be responsible for the lives they affected. It was a delicate balance—one they hoped to maintain.
The civil war might have ended, but the fight for a better future was just beginning.
—